Press Release

“Sustainable Development: Because Quality of Life Counts!”
MINISTER MULCAIR INVITES THE POPULATION TO TAKE PART IN THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON QUÉBEC'S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Quebec City, December 10, 2004 - Thomas J. Mulcair, Minister of the Environment, invites the population to participate in the public consultation to be held on Québec’s Sustainable Development Plan.

“The population’s commitment is essential to the success of a sustainable development initiative. As I announced on November 25, I am inviting individuals and organizations to take part wholeheartedly in the consultation that we will be conducting on Québec’s sustainable development plan. Their views, comments and suggestions will enable us to improve upon this important social initiative so that it corresponds as best as possible to our society’s aspirations,” said minister Mulcair.

Specifically, the Minister wishes to collect opinions on the draft bill on sustainable development, a component of the draft Sustainable Development Plan. The draft bill provides for a series of principles and measures including a sustainable development strategy, indicators, annual reports, the appointment of a sustainable development commissioner, the creation of a green fund and the incorporation of a new right into the Charter of Human Rights and Liberties.

Finally, minister Mulcair also wishes to know what actions individuals and organizations would be willing to take to contribute to sustainable development in Québec.

Interested parties are invited to send in their memoir or comments by February 15, 2005, to the following address: developpement.durable@menv.gouv.qc.ca  or by regular mail to the Direction du patrimoine écologique et du développement durable du ministère de l’Environnement, Édifice Marie-Guyart, 675, boulevard René-Lévesque Est, 4^e étage, Québec (Québec) G1R 5V7. If you are interested, you can share your opinion during the regional consultation tour which will take minister Mulcair to approximately 15 municipalities between January 27 and March 11, 2005. Arrangements and schedules will be announced at a later date.

The complete version of the consultation document on Québec’s Sustainable Development Plan and its summary, as well as the draft bill on sustainable development are available on the Ministère de l’Environnement’s Web site at: www.menv.gouv.qc.ca.

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